Saint Clare’s love for Mary

The new life of Saint Clare, from her conversion to her entrance in heaven, was marked by a special, very special presence of Mary—by Clare’s love for Mary and by Mary’s love for Clare.

Mary is present at the moment of her consecration to God. It is written: “Leaving her home, city and relatives,” we read in the process of canonization, “she hurried towards Saint Mary of Portiuncula… the church of the Virgin Mary.”

“This is that place – narrates the author of Saint Clare’s life – in which the new legion of the poor under the leadership of Francis took its happy beginnings, that it might be clearly evident that it was the Mother of Mercies to give birth to both Orders in her own home.”

Saint Clare’s love for Mary began with little thoughtful acts of love. Because it was possible to receive Communion only seven times a year, she wanted her Sisters to do so always on the feast of “the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin” and she even suspended fasting on the feast days dedicated to Mary. 

Chiara Lubich

Focolare Movement 

Saint Clare and Mary - Centro Chiara Lubich

August 10, 2003